Temperature-Sensitive Transitions below LCST in Amphiphilic Dendritic Assemblies: Host–Guest Implications

Oligo­(ethylene glycol)-decorated supramolecular assemblies have been of great interest due to their charge-neutral character and thus their propensity to avoid nonspecific interactions. These systems are known to exhibit a macroscopic temperature-sensitive transition, where the assembly phase-separates from the aqueous phase at higher temperatures. While this so-called lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior has been well-studied, there have been no studies on the fate of these supramolecular assemblies below this transition temperature. The work here brings to light the presence of a second, sub-LCST transition, observed well below the LCST of oligo­(ethylene glycol) (OEG)-based dendrons, where the host–guest properties of the assembly are significantly altered. This sub-LCST transition is accompanied by changes in the guest encapsulation stability and dynamics of host exchange

Electrostatic Control of Peptide Side-Chain Reactivity Using Amphiphilic Homopolymer-Based Supramolecular Assemblies

Supramolecular assemblies formed by amphiphilic homopolymers with negatively charged groups in the hydrophilic segment have been designed to enable high labeling selectivity toward reactive side chain functional groups in peptides. The negatively charged interiors of the supramolecular assemblies are found to block the reactivity of protonated amines that would otherwise be reactive in aqueous solution, while maintaining the reactivity of nonprotonated amines. Simple changes to the pH of the assemblies’ interiors allow control over the reactivity of different functional groups in a manner that is dependent on the p<i>K</i>_a of a given peptide functional group. The labeling studies carried out in positively charged supramolecular assemblies and free buffer solution show that, even when the amine is protonated, labeling selectivity exists only when complementary electrostatic interactions are present, thereby demonstrating the electrostatically controlled nature of these reactions

Electrostatic Control of Peptide Side-Chain Reactivity Using Amphiphilic Homopolymer-Based Supramolecular Assemblies

Supramolecular assemblies formed by amphiphilic homopolymers with negatively charged groups in the hydrophilic segment have been designed to enable high labeling selectivity towards reactive side chain functional groups in peptides. The negatively-charged interiors of the supramolecular assemblies are found to block the reactivity of protonated amines that would otherwise be reactive in aqueous solution, while maintaining the reactivity of non-protonated amines. Simple changes to the pH of the assemblies’ interiors allow control over the reactivity of different functional groups in a manner that is dependent on the pK(a) of a given peptide functional group. The labeling studies carried out in positively charged supramolecular assemblies and free buffer solution show that, even when the amine is protonated, labeling selectivity exists only when complementary electrostatic interactions are present, thereby demonstrating the electrostatically controlled nature of these reactions